Core Viewpoint - Ford Motor Company announced a $5 billion investment in the U.S., with $2 billion allocated for a comprehensive renovation of its Louisville, Kentucky plant to produce affordable electric vehicles, starting with a mid-size four-door electric pickup priced around $30,000, set to launch in 2027 [1] Group 1: Investment and Production Plans - Ford is investing $2 billion to upgrade its Louisville plant for electric vehicle production, transitioning from gasoline vehicles to electric [1] - The first product based on the new Universal EV platform will be a mid-size electric pickup, with a starting price of $30,000, compared to the current F-150 Lightning starting at $54,800 [1] - A new Universal EV platform and production system have been introduced to enable cost-effective mass production of various vehicle types, reducing parts by 20% and fasteners by 25%, while assembly time is cut by 15% [1] Group 2: Battery Production and Technology - Ford announced a $3 billion investment to build a new battery factory in Michigan, set to produce low-cost lithium iron phosphate batteries starting in 2026, supported by CATL technology [2] Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Strategic Adjustments - CEO Jim Farley emphasized the need for these initiatives to compete with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers like BYD and emerging startups, as well as large tech companies entering the automotive space [4] - Ford plans to reduce the scale of large electric vehicle development and production, having already canceled a three-row electric SUV and postponed the next-generation F-150 Lightning and E-Transit production to 2028 [4] Group 4: Financial Performance and Challenges - Ford's electric vehicle business has faced significant losses since its independence in 2022, with a projected loss of $5.5 billion in 2025, following a $4.9 billion loss in 2024 [4] - In Q2 2025, the electric vehicle segment continued to incur a $1.3 billion loss, with declining sales for key models like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E [5] - Ford's performance in the Chinese electric vehicle market has been underwhelming, with limited offerings beyond the Ford electric Mustang and the E-Transit [5][7]